Philippines to investigate suspected foreign role in elections

Philippine President Marcos has ordered a probe into alleged foreign interference in May’s elections, following claims that China-backed troll farms aim to sway voters and promote pro-China candidates, accusations Beijing strongly denies.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has launched an investigation into possible foreign interference in the country’s upcoming May elections, following warnings from national security officials about suspected Chinese state-backed influence operations.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro called the reports "alarming" and said a full investigation would be conducted. The move came after a top National Security Council official testified in a Senate hearing about signs of Chinese information operations targeting the electoral process.

Senator Francis Tolentino presented what he claimed was evidence linking the Chinese embassy in Manila to local "troll farm" operations. He alleged that the embassy paid a local marketing firm to run online campaigns, citing a copy of a cheque he said was issued by the Chinese mission.

According to Tolentino, these troll farms were involved not only in spreading Chinese government messaging but also in covertly undermining the Philippine government and influencing public opinion in favor of pro-China candidates. However, he did not name any specific candidates.

China's foreign ministry and its embassy in Manila have denied all accusations, calling them false and politically motivated. They emphasized China's non-interference policy and accused Philippine politicians of using anti-China rhetoric for political gain.

The allegations come as tensions continue between Manila and Beijing, especially over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The upcoming elections will fill 317 congressional seats and thousands of local posts, with key focus on the race for 12 of the 24 Senate seats.

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